Apparatus and methods for preparative liquid chromatography

ABSTRACT

A method of liquid chromatography includes providing one or more solvent reservoirs, providing a solvent pump, drawing one or more solvents into the pump in response to a pressure drop that promotes outgassing of the solvents, and dispersing outgassed bubbles into smaller bubbles to promote re-dissolution of the gas. A liquid-chromatography apparatus includes at least two solvent reservoirs, a pump, at least one bubble-dispersing unit that receives a pressurized flow of proportioned solvents from the pump, and a control unit. The control unit includes a processor and a memory that stores instructions; the control unit controls proportioning of solvents to obtain a preselected solvent composition, and pumping at flow rates to support preparative-scale or process-scale liquid chromatography.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/555,032filed Sep. 8, 2009 which claims priority to and benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/096,468, filed Sep. 12, 2008.The entire contents and teachings of each of these applications arehereby expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention generally relates to chromatography, and, moreparticularly, to apparatus and methods for liquid chromatography at highflow rates.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Liquid chromatography is a method for separating individual compounds ina mixture of compounds. Liquid chromatography is often used for sampleanalysis or for purification of a particular compound in a samplemixture. Typically, a sample containing a number of compounds isinjected into a fluid stream (typically a solvent of constant or varyingcomposition,) and directed through a chromatographic column. The columnseparates the compounds in the sample mixture in response to theirdifferential retention in the column. Concentration peaks associatedwith the separated compounds typically emerge in sequence from thecolumn. Sample purification typically entails higher solvent flow rates,and larger sample quantities, than sample analysis.

The chromatographic peaks are often characterized with respect to theirretention time, that is, the time in which the center of the bandtransits the detector relative to the time of injection. In manyapplications, the retention time of a peak is used to infer the identityof the eluting analyte based upon related analyses incorporatingstandards or calibrants. The presence of the separated species are oftendistinguished through use of a refractometer or an absorbtometerutilizing ultraviolet (UV) light.

In addition to separation columns and detectors, liquid-chromatography(LC) instruments typically include solvent reservoirs, pumps, filters,check valves, sample-injection valves, and other fluid-handling andanalysis components. Typically, mobile-phase solvents are stored inreservoirs, and delivered via reciprocating-cylinder based pumps. Samplematerials are often injected via syringe-type pumps. For example, someLC systems inject a sample by aspirating (pulling) a fluid-based sampleinto a tube via a needle or capillary and then into a sample loop. Thesample is then injected from the sample loop into the mobile-phasestream on its way to a separation column.

In many scientific or industrial applications, compounds are purifiedfor testing, for further analysis, or for volume production. For targetpurification, it is often desirable to recover the target compound withas high a purity as possible, and to separate the largest possiblequantity of a sample with each run to reduce labor, run time, and othercosts. Thus, it is often desirable to process samples at high flow ratesto obtain purified compounds in larger quantities and/or more quickly.It is also commonly desirable to operate at pressures in the range of1,000-5,000 pounds per square inch (psi) or higher. Such pressures areencountered in high-performance (also known as high-pressure) liquidchromatography (HPLC).

Processing liquids at high flow rates and high pressures, however, cancause problems. Pump-blended solvents often encounter outgassing, eitherdue to pressure drops experienced in the pump head or solubilityreduction upon solvent mixing. Outgassing in the pump head can impairmixing, and outgassed bubbles, in general, can impair LC performance byaltering the behavior of various components. For example, bubblespassing through an optical detector can alter the spectral behavior ofthe detector, e.g., by causing spectral spikes.

As noted, bubble production can occur during solvent mixing due lowergas solubility of some solvent mixtures relative to the unmixed solvents(such as water and methanol.) One solution to this problem, at least forisocratic analysis, is to use premixed solvents.

More general solutions to bubble production include helium sparging andvacuum degassing. Often used to degas pre-mixed solvents, heliumsparging is particularly effective where the solvent reservoir can bepressurized. Sparging, however, can be costly and inconvenient. In-linevacuum degassers offer an alternative solution. Such degassers utilize asemipermeable membrane disposed in an evacuation chamber that removesdissolved gases. Degassers, however, also add cost, and can beineffective for high flow rates as often utilized in preparative- andprocess-scale liquid chromatography.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention arises, in part, from the realization that the impact ofbubble formation in preparative- and process-scale LC apparatus can bemitigated by breaking up the bubbles so that the remaining smallerbubbles are more readily dissolved. Preferably, the bubbles aredispersed, i.e., fragmented, via the effect of one or morebubble-dispersing components placed in the liquid pathway between one ormore bubble sources, such as pumps or mixers, and one or more detectors.The dissolved gas then has a much smaller effect on detector readingsthan would bubbles passing through the detector. The invention isparticularly well suited to apparatus where sparging and/or vacuumdegassing are ineffective and/or too complex and/or too costly toimplement. Thus, for example, the invention is particularly well suitedto apparatus that entail: high-pressure; pumping of solvent atrelatively high flow-rates, such as 10 s of milliliters per minute orgreater; and/or mixing of solvents, such as methanol and water, thatlead to significant reductions in gas solubility.

Accordingly, one embodiment of the invention features a method of liquidchromatography. The method includes providing one or more solventreservoirs, providing a piston-based pump that includes at least onechamber, drawing one or more solvents into the pump in response to apressure drop that promotes outgassing of the solvents, and dispersingoutgassed bubbles into smaller bubbles to promote re-dissolution of thegas.

A second embodiment of the invention features a liquid-chromatographyapparatus. The apparatus includes at least two solvent reservoirs, agradient proportioning valve, a pump, at least one bubble-dispersingunit that receives a pressurized flow of proportioned solvents from thepump, and a control unit. The control unit includes a processor and amemory that stores instructions, which control proportioning of solventsto obtain a preselected solvent composition, and pumping at flow ratesto support preparative-scale or process-scale liquid chromatography.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The drawing is not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generallybeing placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a liquid-chromatography apparatus, inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a liquid-chromatography apparatus, inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION

The phrase “isocratic-mode chromatography” herein refers to the use of asolvent composition that remains substantially constant as a function oftime. During isocratic-mode chromatography, analytes in some sampleselute while a fixed-concentration mobile phase flows through one or morecolumns.

The phrase “gradient-mode chromatography” herein refers to a flowingsolvent composition that changes as a function of time, typically inresponse to a user-defined profile.

The term “preparative-scale liquid chromatography” herein refers to theuse of liquid chromatography to isolate one or more compounds in aquantity and at a purity sufficient for further experiments or uses.Though preparative-scale liquid chromatography can refer to isolation ofany quantity of a material (e.g., a few micrograms for a biochemist, ora few milligrams for an organic chemist,) the term “preparative-scaleliquid chromatography” herein refers generally to methods and apparatusdesigned to isolate at least about 0.5 gram or more of a substance. Suchmethods and apparatus generally require relatively large solvent flowrates, e.g., at least about 5 ml/minute or more. In contrast,“analytical liquid chromatography” often entails flow rates of a fewml/minute or less.

Analytical liquid chromatography often uses a standard column innerdiameter of 4.7 mm. Preparative-scale liquid chromatography, incontrast, typically uses columns having diameters of about 7.8 mm toabout 100 mm, while “process-scale” (industrial) liquid chromatographytypically uses columns of greater than 100 mm. Thus, for example, forpharmaceutical or biotechnological applications, a separation column canbe as much as several feet in diameter to isolate kilograms of material.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a liquid chromatography apparatus 100,suitable for preparative- or process-scale liquid chromatography, inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention. The apparatus 100includes four solvent reservoirs 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, a gradientproportioning valve 20, an inlet manifold valve 30, a pump 40, a solventmixer 50, one or more bubble-dispersing components 80 (shown in dashedoutline at some optional locations,) an injector 35, a separation column60, a detector 70, and a control unit 90.

In operation, the gradient proportioning valve 20 and the pump 40, inresponse to control of the control unit 90, select and draw one or moresolvents from the reservoirs 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D. Any suitable gradientproportioning valve 20 is used, including commercially available valves.The valve 20 is operated, in response to control of the control unit 90,to provide a selected solvent composition, which is optionally varied intime, for example, to implement gradient-mode chromatography.

The bubble-dispersing component 80 is any component suitable forbreaking up bubbles to reduce their size and thus enhance theirre-dissolution. Suitable components include passive and activecomponents. Some passive bubble-dispersing components are formed from aporous material having pore sizes much smaller than typical bubblesizes; upon traversing of the pumped solvent through the pores, thebubbles are dispersed, i.e., increased in number and reduced in size.The porosity, and thickness, of the material is preferably chosen tolimit to an acceptable level the backpressure associated with thecomponent 80.

Preferably, the bubble-dispersing component 80 is disposed as close aspossible to a bubble source, to provide as much subsequent liquidpathway (and associated time) as possible for the dispersed bubbles todissolve.

Returning to the subject of materials that are suitable for passivebubble fragmentation, some suitable porous material are particle- ormesh-based. A porous material is optionally produced by molding and/orsintering of particles; the particles optionally have fibrous, dentriticor spherical shapes, for example. The particles are, for example,metals, such as stainless steel, ceramic materials, such as alumina,glassy materials, or polymeric materials, such aspolytetrafluoroethylene, or a combination of materials, or coatedmaterials. Pore size is selectable in response to packing density,particle size and shape, particle composition, and processingconditions. Particles are joined by, for example, fusing or sintering.Fusing or sintering process conditions also affect the strength, poresize, and surface area of such porous materials.

In some implementations, the component 80 is formed from a thinmaterial, such as mesh or a porous membrane; suitable membranes includean etched polycarbonate membrane, and a polymer such as a polyolefin,including polypropylene. A suitable mesh includes, for example, astainless-steel screen. The screen or membrane is optionally coated, forexample, with a fluorocarbon polymer. Some embodiments utilize aconvention liquid-chromatography frit as a bubble-fragmenting component.

The solvent mixer 50 is any suitable mixer, including known passive andactive mixers. In embodiments that generate bubbles in the mixer, abubble-dispersing component 80 is preferably disposed downstream of themixer 50. For example, one embodiment of the invention utilizes awater-solvent reservoir and a methanol-solvent reservoir. Upon mixing ofwater and methanol, the solubility of dissolved gas declines, thus oftenforcing bubbles to form and exit with the liquid exiting the mixer 50.In such a case, a bubble-dispersing component 80, as illustrated, ispreferable disposed near to an exit port of the mixer 80.

The injector is any suitable injector 35, including known injectors, forinjecting a sample into the solvent flow. The injector 35 is optionallydisposed at alternative locations in the solvent flow path, as will beunderstood by one having ordinary skill in the liquid-chromatographyarts.

The inlet manifold valve 30 is connected to an outlet tube from thegradient proportioning valve 20, and to two inlet tubes connected to thepump 40, to supply solvent to the two piston chambers. The inletmanifold valve 30 optionally includes a sample injector, to injectsamples into the solvent prior to its entry into the pump 40.

The control unit 90—including, for example, a personal computer orworkstation—receives data and/or provides control signals via wiredand/or wireless communications to, for example, thegradient-proportioning valve 20, the pump inlet manifold 30, the pump40, and/or the detector 70. The control unit 90 supports, for example,automation of sample processing. The control unit 90, in variousillustrative embodiments, is implemented in software, firmware, and/orhardware (e.g., as an application-specific integrated circuit). Thecontrol unit 90 includes and/or is in communication with storagecomponent(s).

Suitable implantations of the control unit 90 include, for example, oneor more integrated circuits, such as microprocessors. A singleintegrated circuit or microprocessor in some alternative embodimentsincludes the control unit 90 and other electronic portions of theapparatus 100. In some embodiments, one or more microprocessorsimplement software that enables the functions of the control unit 90. Insome embodiments, the software is designed to run on general-purposeequipment and/or specialized processors dedicated to the functionalityherein described.

In some implementations of the apparatus 100, the control unit 90includes a user interface to support interaction with the control unit90 and/or other portions of the apparatus 100. For example, theinterface is configured to accept control information from a user and toprovide information to a user about the apparatus 100. The userinterface is used, for example, to set system control parameters and/orto provide diagnostic and troubleshooting information to the user. Inone embodiment, the user interface provides networked communicationbetween the apparatus 100 and users located either local to theoperating environment or remote from the operating environment. The userinterface in some implementations is used to modify and update software.

In view of the description of illustrative embodiments provided herein,it will be apparent to one having ordinary skill in the separation artsthat various other configurations and implementations of control unitscan be utilized in other embodiments of the invention to provideautomated control of process-scale and preparative-scale chromatography.

The pump 40 is configured to provide solvent at pressures of at least500 psi, or 1,000 psi, or 5,000, psi or 10,000 psi or greater. The pumpincludes any suitable piston-based pump, including known pumps, such asavailable from Waters Corporation, Milford, Mass.

The column 60 is any column suitable for process-scale andpreparative-scale chromatography. The column contains, for example, anymedium suitable for such a purpose, including known media. The sorbentmaterial is selected from any suitable sorbent material, including knownmaterials such as silica or a mixture of silica and a copolymer such asan alkyl compound. The solvents are any solvents suitable to a desiredseparation process, including known solvents.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a liquid chromatography apparatus 200, inaccordance with another embodiment of the invention. The apparatus 200largely includes components similar to that of the apparatus 100illustrated in FIG. 1, as identified by the common reference characters.

The apparatus 200 has a pump 40A, however, that includes two seriallydisposed piston chambers, in contrast to the parallel use of pistonchambers found in the pump 40 of the apparatus 100. In this embodiment,the outlet tube from the gradient proportioning valve 20 is connected toone of the chambers of the pump 40A. Other embodiments of the inventionutilize pumps having a single piston chamber or multiple piston chambersin serial and/or parallel configurations. More generally, principles ofthe invention are applicable to pumping systems that subject a fluid,such as a solvent, to a reduction in pressure, sufficient to causeoutgassing of dissolved gasses.

Variations, modifications, and other implementations of what isdescribed herein will occur to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention asdescribed. For example, In view of the above description, it will beapparent that the number and/or arrangement of various components of theabove-described apparatus 100 are optionally modified, while stillexploiting the disclosed solution to bubble formation. For example,alternative embodiments of the invention include more than one column,fewer or greater than four solvents, fewer or greater than two pistonchambers, and one or more bubble dispersing units at various alternativelocations down stream of bubble sources. Accordingly, the invention isto be defined not by the preceding illustrative description but insteadby the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of liquid chromatography, comprising:providing at least one solvent reservoir containing at least one solventhaving dissolved gas; providing a pump comprising at least one pistondisposed in a chamber in fluid communication with the at least onesolvent reservoir; drawing the at least one solvent into the pump inresponse to a pressure drop that promotes formation of bubbles due tooutgassing of the at least one solvent; and dispersing the bubbles intosmaller bubbles, after the bubbles exit the pump and prior to aninjector that is positioned between the pump and the column, to promoteredissolution of the dissolved gas.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherebythe drawing step comprises providing a pump flow rate.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the dispersing step comprises passing the bubblesthrough a component that fragments the bubbles.
 4. The method of claim1, wherein the pressure drop is at least 14 pounds per square inch. 5.The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a solvent mixerhaving an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the pump,wherein dispersing the bubbles comprises dispersing the bubbles afterthe bubbles exit the mixer.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein providingthe at least one solvent reservoir comprises providing a water reservoirand a methanol reservoir, thereby promoting the formation of bubbles inthe mixer due to a decrease in gas solubility upon mixing of the waterand methanol in the mixer.
 7. The method of claim 2, wherein the pumpflow rate is at least 5 ml/minute.
 8. The method of claim 2, wherein thepump flow rate is at least 10 ml/minute.
 9. The method of claim 2,wherein the pump flow rate is at least 100 ml/minute.